Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz: "Our goal this year was to take the championship away from Marshall, and we have already accomplished that. Our reward is to get to come up I-75 and play in this great bowl game."

Cincinnati head coach Rick Minter: "This year is all about making amends for last season (a 25-14 loss to Marshall in the same bowl). Last year, we came up here to play a great team, and we didn't play a great game. This year, we hope that the experience from last season will help us."

Notebook: Amstutz is in his first season as the Rockets' coach, having served as an assistant in the program for 20 years. One of his first moves was to install a spread offense, similar to the one Cincinnati runs. ... Taylor became the first back in Toledo history to have three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He finished third in the nation with 23 total touchdowns, and was also third in total scoring, averaging 12.55 points per game. His five touchdowns against Central Michigan on Sept. 22 tied a MAC record. ... Toledo rallied from a 23-0 deficit to beat Marshall 41-36 in the MAC championship game. It was Toledo's first MAC title since 1995, and the Rockets will be the first MAC team other than Marshall to play in the Motor City Bowl. ... Bolden's 68.7% completion percentage set a MAC record. ... Cincinnati's Guidigli was named Conference-USA's Freshman of the Year.